Jack Jenkins

National Reporter for Religion News Service. "Workaday writer." — The New Yorker. Author of "American Prophets," a book on the religious left. National Reporter for Religion News Service. Tips? Try me on Signal: jackmjenkins.60 #religion #politics #religionandpolitics

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Last Notes

2025-03-16 01:33:49

Religious groups who work with foreign aid have consistently told me the same thing, over and over, since the gutting of USAID: people — real people — are going to die, including children.
According to this NYTimes piece, it’s already begun.
https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/post/3lkg6suazgs2r

2025-03-15 13:20:12

My hot take on Mastodon is that, yes, it doesn’t have the user base of Threads or the “juice” of Bluesky, etc.
But as a journalist, I have no plans to ever completely abandon this platform, because, if nothing else, the *overall structure* is de facto more durable than anything else out there. That durability is proven, and in an unsettled world, could prove vital to getting out information should other platforms fail/get taken down, etc.
Also, folks are mostly pretty nice here.

2025-03-08 15:30:47

A thing in here: Bishop Barron of Word on Fire Ministries apparently held a private Mass for lawmakers and hill staffers ahead of Trump’s speech this week.
If you know anything about this mass, I’d love to know more. Hit me up on Signal: jackmjenkins.60 https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/bishop-barrons-video-capitol-annotated

2025-03-08 00:50:16

NEW: I spoke with people who attended a recent meeting between Trump admin officials and religious groups that work with USAID.
Faith leaders tell me that, should the government fully abandon foreign aid, religious groups won't be able to fill the gap alone. https://religionnews.com/2025/03/07/as-trump-administration-threatens-all-aid-faith-groups-say-they-cant-do-it-alone/

2025-03-04 23:57:41

The thing to keep in mind here: Per a court order from last week in a case brought by religious groups, refugees *should* be allowed into the U.S. again, at least for now.
But it's not at all clear if that's actually happening, hence the judge calling the question here (among other things — read the story for more!).
https://mastodon.online/@jackmjenkins/114106857052411074

2025-03-04 23:54:22

NEW via Aleja Hertzler-McCain and myself: In an emergency hearing on Tuesday, a federal judge said he will order the Trump admin to produce a "status report" on whether it has restarted refugee admissions and resettlement per a recent court order https://religionnews.com/2025/03/04/trump-administration-must-produce-status-report-on-refugee-resettlement-judge-orders/

2025-03-01 16:53:26

“With the cancellation of World Relief and other Resettlement Agency agreements, this is effectively ending a 45 year, bi-partisan, refugee resettlement program with the stroke of a pen,” said Myal Greene, head of World Relief, an evangelical Christian group that works with refugees.
https://mastodon.online/@jackmjenkins/114083931851542462

2025-02-28 19:25:46

In a striking change in tone, Vance used his speech at the Catholic prayer breakfast this morning to try and ease tensions with Pope Francis — while also suggesting Catholics shouldn't "obsess" over what Catholic prelates say: https://religionnews.com/2025/02/28/at-catholic-prayer-breakfast-vance-seeks-to-tone-down-tensions-with-pope-francis/

2025-02-20 20:46:46

Via @nprofile…gge7: Iranian Christians feared death in Iran. Then the US deported them to Panama. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/20/iranian-christians-asylum-seekers-deported-panama/79217451007/

2025-02-10 21:40:25

NEW: Three faith groups that work w/the govt to resettle refugees — Church World Service, HIAS, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest — are part of a lawsuit challenging Trump's EO suspending the U.S. refugee program and withholding funding for the groups. https://refugeerights.org/news-resources/new-lawsuit-challenges-trump-suspension-of-refugee-resettlement-program-and-freeze-of-refugee-funding

2025-02-07 16:24:45

Looks like this week’s Musk vs. Lutherans dust-up has inspired its own T-shirts.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/963/531/246/513/714/original/a0d2ec22580a98b5.jpg

2025-01-21 17:18:02

BREAKING: In sermon to Trump at inaugural prayer service, Episcopal Bishop Budde pleads for immigrants, transgender rights —> https://religionnews.com/2025/01/21/in-sermon-to-trump-bishop-budde-pleads-for-immigrants-transgender-rights/

2025-01-21 16:48:52

NEW from me: Faith-based aid agencies challenge Trump’s order 'realigning' refugee program —> https://religionnews.com/2025/01/21/faith-based-aid-agencies-challenge-trumps-order-realigning-refugee-program/

2025-01-20 21:50:53

Mere hours after Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church in Detroit delivered one of the benediction prayers at Trump's inauguration, the pastor has now launched his own crypto token.
"I need you to go buy the official Lorenzo Sewell coin," he says, before invoking Martin Luther King, Jr.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/862/891/572/034/192/original/ad16f8b12944ddd0.jpg

2025-01-13 23:18:46

NEW: I confirmed Speaker Mike Johnson is, in fact, pushing to replace the current House Chaplain Margaret Kibben.
I also looked in to the pastor reportedly being considered as her replacement: Becky Tirabassi, an evangelical CA pastor with her own DC prayer house. https://religionnews.com/2025/01/13/speaker-johnson-pushing-to-replace-house-chaplain/

2025-01-12 21:51:30

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@nprofile…luvt oh wow — I actually wasn’t aware it was a *specific* prayer! Which prayer is it?

2025-01-12 14:14:51

PSA: I woke up in the middle of the night last night and looked out the window, and my eyes couldn’t quite make sense of what I was seeing.
It took me a moment, then I realized that the moon (which is almost full) is SO bright, and the snow is SO white, that the moon full-on *casts shadows.*
(Yes, I imagine you northerners have grown up with this, but my Southerner’s mind was right boggled.)

2025-01-06 12:56:43

On this: I interviewed McElroy, the new Archbishop of Washington, in 2022 immediately before he was made a Cardinal.
When I asked him about Christian nationalism, he argued patriotism "is an aspiration … not a possession," and bemoaned populism that "pick(s) targets among the marginalized."
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/781/518/532/036/946/original/d1b178b2dd155fbe.png

2025-01-06 12:35:07

INBOX: San Diego’s Cardinal McElroy will be the new Archbishop of Washington, as Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Gregory.
McElroy is part of the liberal wing of U.S. bishops, and has spoken out on topics like immigrant rights.
*Quite* a move as Trump takes power, as the President-elect is advised by a cadre of conservative Catholics who are likely to clash with McElroy.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/781/431/664/828/579/original/ecb3ceadbc6a67d4.jpg

2025-01-06 02:40:29

Oh, wow.
The Post is really bleeding talent right now.
https://www.threads.net/@oliverdarcy/post/DEduokpvRBf

2024-12-30 14:30:34

Something deeply American about America’s Second Catholic President eulogizing America’s first evangelical president (both of whom are Democrats) at the Washington National Cathedral, which is an Episcopal Church. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/us/politics/jimmy-carter-funeral.html

2024-12-23 22:39:20

So, if you want to attend a worship service with President-elect Trump at his inauguration this year, you can.
But so far, there's only one option, and there's a catch: you'll need to either donate $100,000 or raise $200,000.
It's pay-to-pray. https://religionnews.com/2024/12/23/amid-uncertainty-around-religion-at-trumps-inauguration-reports-of-a-pay-to-pray/

2024-12-23 20:11:59

Christians in Bethlehem are once again scaling back Christmas celebrations in solidarity with those in Gaza, a repeat of a similar protest from last year — a significant step for a local economy that relies on tourism.
I spoke to a pastor there who has advocated around the world for Palestinians, gleaning his thoughts on a year of activism — and the incoming Trump admin. https://religionnews.com/2024/12/23/in-bethlehem-a-christian-pastor-reflects-on-a-year-of-prayerful-pro-palestinian-activism/

2024-12-11 18:48:20

This is huge.
An entire faith-based movement, the New Sanctuary Movement, was built around this policy, where houses of worship allow undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation to live in their facilities until their deportation order is dropped. https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/trump-scrap-restriction-ice-arrests-churches-schools-rcna183688

2024-11-23 15:57:38

What are you reading this weekend?

2024-11-22 13:09:04

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@nprofile…nphd thank you for sharing!
As an aside: There was also a fourth, less-read entry into the series (it was posted a bit after the first three) that focused mostly on how Christian nationalism is also historically tied to big business: https://archive.thinkprogress.org/big-business-modern-christian-nationalism-5e0af6e36192/

2024-11-15 22:49:51

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@nprofile…h9qy @nprofile…3jyt Yup! That's my employer.
I know cuz they told me.

2024-11-15 21:02:06

Oh hey @nprofile…3jyt is on here! Follow them!
https://mastodon.social/@religionnews/113488893669121702

2024-11-14 02:19:44

So I asked several of Trump’s evangelical advisors — and some religious leaders in Trump’s broader orbit — what they actually want from a second Trump term.
Here’s what they told me. https://religionnews.com/2024/11/13/what-evangelicals-say-they-want-from-a-second-trump-term/

2024-11-06 01:13:15

Talked to a bunch of voters in Pennsylvania today about religion, politics, and today's election.
This is what they had to say: https://religionnews.com/2024/11/05/in-small-town-pennsylvania-faith-drives-votes-for-trump-and-harris/

2024-11-05 19:50:47

Wildest thing about this election so far is that despite all the tension around it, the weather in a lot of places is *amazing,* so it’s all very tranquil and pleasant out in polling locations.

2024-11-02 23:30:21

Just one poll, massive caveats apply, etc., etc.
But also: Huh. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/11/02/iowa-poll-kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-2024-presidential-race/75354033007/

2024-10-30 12:41:40

Looking at polling, etc., and I still keep coming back to my analysis that has held steady for the past two weeks: there really, truly isn’t any solid indication so far of how the election will go.
It’s anybody’s race up to the wire. Or there’s an industry-wide polling error and one candidate will run away with it. Or it’ll be razor-thin on election night and controversy erupts.
All those are entirely — and almost equally — plausible.

2024-10-04 16:27:03

Question to Mastodon: Am I wrong, or is solar power the only widely available/scalable form of energy that isn’t ultimately just about spinning a turbine?
Like, everything else, near as I can tell, whether it’s coal or hydro or nuclear fusion, is ultimately just about spinning a turbine to generate electricity?

2024-09-13 11:56:25

On Monday night, Trump participated in a call organized by the National Faith Advisory Board, an organization headed by his former faith advisor Paula White.
He made a lot of claims he’s made before, but also argued that an influx of immigrants (many of whom *are* conservative Christians) will “destroy the voting powers of Christian conservatives forever,” adding, “there should be no more important voice than the voice of Christians.”
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/113/130/114/496/685/097/original/4ca81d608803d434.mp4

2024-09-09 13:07:54

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@npub1mhp…6t73 heck, that assumes living on Mars is an actual thing humans can do without dying pretty much constantly, which I am currently pretty skeptical of

2024-09-09 11:42:06

There’s a lot going on in these graphs, but the one that always jumps out at me is the tiny bit at the bottom: there were around 1 billion people on the planet in 1820.
Roughly 200 years later, there are now around 8 billion.
That’s just an…insane amount of growth, considering humans have been around *so much longer* than that.
https://mas.to/@maxroser/113107361337949590

2024-08-31 11:35:07

What are you reading this weekend?

2024-08-06 13:29:01

NEW from me: Five faith faith facts about Harris's VP pick Tim Walz, a ‘Minnesota Lutheran’ Dad who, if elected, would be the second (or, maybe, first) Lutheran VP in U.S. history https://religionnews.com/2024/08/06/five-faith-facts-about-harris-pick-tim-walz-a-minnesota-lutheran-dad/

2024-07-31 00:52:44

NEW via me and Aleja: Christians United for Israel, the largest US pro-Israel group, held its DC summit this week.
But their strident message didn't go unchallenged: CUFI was confronted by a blitz of faith-based pro-Palestinian protests — including one with kayaks. https://religionnews.com/2024/07/30/interfaith-protest-blitz-confronts-christians-united-for-israel-summit/

2024-07-27 02:01:16

FWIW, it's obvi GREAT to have resources/multiple reporters on stuff. E.g., NYTimes had a 3-byline story on Wednesday's protests, a 2-byline story on Netanyahu's speech, PLUS photographers.
RNS is small, so I…did all that myself.
But the 360 view you get informs your reporting.
Also, it's fun.
https://mastodon.online/@jackmjenkins/112847433235662035

2024-07-22 16:03:05

Look I'll just put it out there: If you have a draft of JD Vance's unpublished book on Christianity ("A Relevant Faith: Searching for a Meaningful American Christianity") and want to leak it to me, my Signal is in my bio, DMs are open, and there are other ways to reach me on my website.

2024-07-20 14:15:41

What are you reading this weekend?

2024-07-14 13:56:10

I’ve finally got OpenVibe working, which combines your Mastodon and Bluesky feeds (and soon, they say, Threads).
There are some clear bugs, but tbh, it hedges way closer to making these sites professionally *useful* as a single chronological feed.

2024-07-14 01:23:08

Reminder: Broadly speaking, await confirmation over the next 24 hours.

2024-07-05 22:52:53

GOP lawmakers, especially conservative Christians, in states across the country are pushing bills designed to enhance faith's influence in public schools (10 Commandments, chaplains, etc.).
But they keep getting pushback from the same group, which keeps decrying their efforts and filing lawsuits to stop their bills: other religious people. https://religionnews.com/2024/07/05/bills-to-enhance-religion-in-schools-spur-fights-between-faiths/

2024-07-01 15:20:11

"In America, the law is king." — Thomas Paine in Common Sense, the pamphlet that helped the American Revolution catch fire:
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/711/906/712/635/711/original/b676a86a06db29a0.png

2024-06-10 17:07:17

Windsor: “People in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that — to return our country to a place of godliness.”
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito: “I agree with you. I agree with you." https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/samuel-alito-supreme-court-justice-recording-tape-battle-1235036470/

2024-06-04 02:06:47

An odd thing about being a journalist is that this profession trains you to seek out wild events or happenings while also repeatedly reinforcing that wild stuff *usually* happens for super boring and/or painfully dumb reasons.

2024-06-02 15:14:36

What are you reading this weekend?

2024-06-01 13:12:38

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2. Several things of note here, among them: Wilson's older views — such as criticism of the Civil Rights Act — appear to be getting new traction.
Most recently, they were invoked by others to argue the U.S. Constitution is "dead."
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/541/535/709/055/849/original/5320d7559edaea2a.png
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/541/535/754/896/502/original/9a70e48a0c36ea2e.png

2024-06-01 13:11:56

1. My latest: In which I examine the re-emergence of Idaho pastor Doug Wilson among a growing number of influential right-wing voices.
He is being elevated by conservatives as a more moderate face of Christian nationalism, but experts say his views remain radical.
Wilson, meanwhile, tells me he is in infrequent conversation with lobbyists. https://religionnews.com/2024/05/31/the-second-coming-of-doug-wilson/

2024-05-31 20:30:18

Question to Hill photographers out there: talking to the AP earlier this month, Speaker Johnson said he's "used" the Appeal to Heaven flag “for as long as I can remember"…
…But has it flown outside his office his entire time in Congress? Genuinely curious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X6iSP86NEM

2024-05-30 21:09:49

Serious question: So if Trump is a convicted felon now, can he even vote in Florida on Election Day anymore?

2024-05-29 20:58:28

An odd thing about Alito's letter refusing to recuse himself over the flags controversy is the claim he did not know of the "Appeal to Heaven" flag's ties to Jan 6, and he doesn't provide any evidence his wife flew it *before* then.
Also: what other "religious flags" has she flown, as he notes? (If you know of any or have photo evidence, please feel free to leak them to me: my signal is in my bio, and there are other ways to contact me on my website.)
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/526/380/414/557/687/original/9673509453faab7d.png

2024-05-19 16:25:49

EXCLUSIVE: A Catholic diocesan hermit has come out as transgender — believed to be the first in the Roman Catholic Church to do so — with permission of his bishop, John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky. https://religionnews.com/2024/05/19/catholic-diocesan-hermit-approved-by-kentucky-bishop-comes-out-as-transgender/

2024-05-10 03:50:20

This seems like an important section of this Jack Dorsey interview: it seems he backs decentralization in part because it removes the app/company from liability.
https://social.coop/@J12t/112414683038313849
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/112/414/753/796/162/263/original/981e1c9fe9166e2c.jpeg

2024-04-27 11:45:03

Via my colleague Fiona in NYC: Christian nationalist activists lead pro-Israel rally at Columbia University https://religionnews.com/2024/04/26/christian-nationalist-activists-lead-pro-israel-rally-at-columbia-university/

2024-04-17 02:42:37

There’s already been a whole lot said about the whole NPR editor ripping on his own network, but I will just note that his essay included one of my personal pet peeves: dismissively referring to intersectionality as if it were an ideology — which it is not — and in so doing strongly hinting that he doesn’t actually know what the word means.

2024-04-06 21:49:15

What are you reading this weekend?

2024-04-05 18:05:57

Wild role-reversal here: Religious abortion rights advocates are arguing (so far, successfully!) that Indiana's religious freedom law — which was backed by religious conservatives in 2015 and then-Gov. Mike Pence, and opposed by religious liberals — protects their religious right to an abortion. https://religionnews.com/2024/04/04/indiana-appeals-court-upholds-injunction-on-abortion-ban-citing-religious-liberty/

2024-04-03 00:58:48

As an earthquake hits Taiwan, so far best social media site for me to get reliable up-to-date info on what’s happening is…Mastodon.
And it’s not even close.

2024-03-30 14:20:22

What are you reading this weekend?

2024-03-20 23:00:01

Out of curiosity, a question to my followers: what are your social media habits these days? Have you chosen one platform, or are you jumping back and forth between several?

2024-03-06 01:05:45

“I’m a Christian nationalist and I’m a proud Christian nationalist” — Steve Bannon https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article286214031.html?tbref=hp

2024-02-28 15:34:15

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Historical aside: always fascinating to see Massachusetts on lists like these.
In modern context, opposition to Christian nationalism there makes perfect sense.
But the Massachusetts Bay Colony was an unapologetic theocracy, and Massachusetts was the LAST state to abolish its state church in 1833.

2024-02-28 15:08:11

States with highest support for Christian nationalism, per PRRI:
Mississippi (50%)
North Dakota (50%)
Alabama (47%)
West Virginia (47%)
Louisiana (46%)
Tennessee (45%)
States with the lowest:
Oregon (17%)
Massachusetts (18%)
Maryland (19%)
New York (19%)
New Jersey (20%)
Washington (20%)
https://religionnews.com/2024/02/28/new-survey-finds-pockets-of-support-for-christian-nationalism-across-the-country/

2024-02-22 18:30:06

You may've read Politico's story about Russ Vought, a Trump admin official/potential Trump chief of staff, whose think tank reportedly drafted a doc listing "Christian nationalism" as a policy goal for a hypothetical Trump second term.
That think tank told me they're denying Politico's report but…didn't appear to deny support for Christian nationalism as a policy framework?
Likely because…Vought has spent years openly voicing support for forms of Christian nationalism? https://religionnews.com/2024/02/21/think-tank-denies-report-of-christian-nationalism-plans-but-still-backs-christian-nationalism/

2024-02-16 22:47:14

Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris held a private meeting with Rev. William Barber and another anti-poverty activist.
Barber told me the conversation was mostly about poverty, but that Harris also asked him about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. https://religionnews.com/2024/02/15/kamala-harris-holds-private-meeting-with-rev-william-barber/

2024-02-12 15:36:12

I feel like one of the only ways to gauge whether Mastodon is replacing Twitter is to see how users react to one of the USA's thorniest geographical and sociological questions:
How do you regionally classify Kentucky — is it part of the South, Midwest, Appalachia, etc?

2024-01-28 23:50:56

Paternity leave has given me a rare chance to step back and think about big-picture things from afar, which has led me to this conclusion:
The world — and the U.S. in particular — is going through a massive series of changes that make planning for the future extremely difficult and even *thinking* about the future an even more anxiety-inducing exercise than normal, and basically everyone is super stressed about it.
Not an especially earth-shattering finding, but a big dynamic nonetheless.

2024-01-24 20:28:58

You know, nonprofits *absolutely* aren’t magically perfect by any means, but seems worth noting that:
• Nonprofit news is having a moment amid widespread journalism chaos
• Lots of folks leaving Substack are switching their newsletters to the Ghost platform, which is run by a nonprofit
• Threads, which has emerged as the main Twitter challenger, uses ActivityPub, which was developed and/or administered by an international nonprofit

2024-01-14 13:55:07

I feel like an under-reported story about Taiwan’s election is that China, per WaPo, very much tried to influence the outcome in various ways — including using social media, as is common for many who seek to influence foreign elections. But it…didn’t work?
E.g,: “Fake news videos, with AI-generated hosts and voice-overs, have circulated on YouTube, Instagram and X, according to a Taiwanese national security official’s accounts to local media in Taipei.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/12/taiwan-election-china-misinformation/

2024-01-07 15:32:26

Speaking of paternity leave: I jumped off Twitter as soon as my newborn arrived (we’re over the moon, btw!), and have only used the Competitor Twitters since.
For news, Mastodon requires more work than the others — e.g., hunting down the few official accounts on here, or accounts reposting news RSS feeds, federated Flipboard posts, etc…
…but the result is, surprisingly, way more informative about brass-tacks news than Threads or Bluesky?

2023-12-24 17:03:17

I was recently made aware that if a waxed canvas object has lost its water repellant, you can fix it by just rubbing a brick of wax on it, smoothing it out with your hands, and melting it a little with a hair dryer.
You can also wax other fabric this way.
Kinda feels like we’ve spent a lot of time, money, and energy waterproofing stuff other ways for only minimal improvement over this…pretty simple tech?

2023-12-15 20:13:00

1. So, I spent a good chunk of this year investigating Christian nationalism in the U.S., particularly regions where the ideology is strongest.
Here are some highlights:
In February, I tripped to North Idaho, where Christian nationalism and Christian separatism — and an influx of blue-state expats — are transforming local politics. https://religionnews.com/2023/02/22/how-big-christian-nationalism-has-come-courting-in-north-idaho/

2023-12-11 22:43:05

As the White House convenes a Hanukkah celebration, DC is playing host to a wave of faith-led cease-fire protests, including Jewish "elders" chaining themselves to the White House fence, a Hanukkah cease-fire celebration, and a Christmas cease-fire vigil. https://religionnews.com/2023/12/11/jewish-christian-activists-head-up-another-wave-of-faith-led-cease-fire-demonstrations/

2023-10-30 01:19:42

My personal tech conspiracy theory is that Apple's weird aversion to robot vacuums is because they KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T.

2023-10-16 22:47:41

Tried to post this earlier, but it didn’t take: fairly sizable protest (with some arrests) happened around the White House today, spread out around the whole area, of primarily Jewish demonstrators from If Not Now and Jewish Voice for Peace calling for a ceasefire along the border between Israel and Gaza.
Says one rabbi, addressing the crowd: “The answer to all of this unfathomable grief cannot be mass murder. … Our grief is not a weapon.”
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/111/247/114/855/389/184/original/cb5b7893bc410d1e.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/111/247/127/791/480/250/original/ce1daca56c820f2d.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/111/247/127/560/517/844/original/ab424391ed150b73.jpeg

2023-09-05 21:24:38

Last week Pope Francis made waves for condemning a “a very strong, organized, reactionary attitude" among some U.S. Catholics, which he called “backwardness."
But who, exactly, was Francis referring to?
We pulled together a list of potential options: https://religionnews.com/2023/09/05/pope-francis-chides-his-critics-but-who-is-he-talking-about/

2023-08-24 23:04:58

Just wild to watch Trump prepare for a fourth arrest on charges of trying to overturn an election in Georgia, a state that — until 2020 — no Republican had lost since 1992.

2023-08-23 13:33:54

Recently learned the guy who volunteered as a handyman at the South Carolina church I grew up in also worked on the Manhattan Project, which made him only one of many scientists/engineers in our congregation.
Might be why our church boiler looked like a dang nuclear reactor.

2023-08-10 15:57:42

In the wake of the Ohio Issue 1 vote, widely seen as a de facto vote on abortion (and a victory for abortion rights advocates), I keep thinking about what Ralph Reed, head of the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition, told me last October. —> https://religionnews.com/2022/10/25/as-midterms-loom-role-of-abortion-remains-uncertain/
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/110/866/140/107/669/866/original/87a624bd73e62df1.png

2023-08-06 18:14:37

My latest hot take is that the U.S. (including U.S. religion) is in a super weird transitional time for *many* reasons but what we are transitioning *into* remains wildly unclear and leaves almost everyone anxious.

2023-08-02 15:56:00

- reply

I suppose my question *behind* that question is whether there's been a slow (ongoing?) evolution as to how the average person *uses* the internet.

2023-08-02 15:54:32

Question to Mastodon tech-heads: I know various social media companies have tweaked/eliminated algorithms that used to pump a lot of traffic toward news websites, certain media outlets, etc.
We've also seen efforts to reduce screentime on phones, etc.
Is there any evidence that there's been a collective impact here — one that's just reduced internet traffic overall (sans streaming, I guess)?

2023-08-01 15:44:29

NEW: For Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, an appeal to faith — or Christian nationalism — sells.
One pastor encouraged attendees to donate to Boebert, saying, "I’d like to give her at least $5,000 from Charis Christian Center today." https://religionnews.com/2023/08/01/for-boebert-and-greene-faith-and-christian-nationalism-sells/

2023-07-17 13:44:14

I'm starting to get the feeling Hollywood might have something to say about AI (as do workers in their own industry).
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/110/729/716/281/431/951/original/0d6bb52313e626ed.png
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2023-07-15 14:24:39

FYI: If you pick up a copy of today’s Washington Post, you’ll find articles from me and my colleague Bob Smietana in the religion section
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/110/718/554/752/410/659/original/dfaf95c82db18c32.jpeg

2023-07-13 13:43:06

1. So, you've heard of Moms for Liberty.
But you may NOT have heard of the OTHER county-based org removing books from schools & opposing pride declarations while invoking “Judeo-Christian values.”
That's Citizens Defending Freedom — or what critics call "Moms for Liberty in suits.” https://religionnews.com/2023/07/12/when-christian-nationalism-goes-local-inside-citizens-defending-freedom/

2023-07-12 21:39:08

The latest in my Christian nationalism series: Meet Citizens Defending Freedom, a Christian group that’s helped ban books, end vaccine mandates and reverse LGBTQ pride declarations while working locally in FL, GA and TX — all in pursuit of “Judeo-Christian values.”
Critics call them “Moms for Liberty in suits.” https://religionnews.com/2023/07/12/when-christian-nationalism-goes-local-inside-citizens-defending-freedom/

2023-07-11 13:04:58

My Dad was a big gearhead — just *really* into cars.
This meant learning basic car stuff was part of my childhood, even though I was never especially interested/good at it.
He knew this, so he’d always low-key fix my car whenever I came home. And he also left stuff in my car he figured I’d need — cables, gear, a helpful note in a manual, etc.
Dad died in 2018, but I keep finding stuff he left behind when I need it — I found another this morning.
Thanks for still looking out for me, Dad.

2023-07-10 21:23:17

Via my colleague Bob Smietana: Many African American SBC churches have women pastors on staff. Will they be expelled next? —> https://religionnews.com/2023/07/10/many-african-american-sbc-churches-have-women-pastors-on-staff-will-they-be-expelled-next/

2023-07-10 20:03:23

Mars: how you doin over there earth
Earth: i’m good
Mars: you…you sure?
Earth: …
Mars: …
Earth: :: whimpers ::
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2023-07-08 14:18:41

PSA: If you pick up a Washington Post today, you’ll find articles from me and my colleague Fiona Andre in the religion section.
Also: @npub1zmt…v0ff over at AP.
Relatedly, the Global Religion Journalism Initiative with RNS/AP/The Conversation is pretty dang great.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/110/678/895/127/291/780/original/6faac587e0bf1673.jpeg

2023-07-07 18:49:04

Well, if this exchange with the head of Threads is any indication, it sure *seems* like journalists are still gonna need places like Bluesky, Mastodon and even Twitter after all.
https://files.mastodon.online/media_attachments/files/110/674/295/304/587/920/original/e2b1d38b39a7d9cf.jpeg
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2023-07-07 12:34:04

I feel like Mastodon has very clearly done the most *thinking* about how social media should work, how it should be structured, etc.
Those lessons have clearly been learned by others — hence Threads working on ActivityPub integration, Bluesky also being decentralized, etc.
Mastodon may yet outlast them all, but currently I see it as serving a similar function to academia — doing the research, having the breakthroughs that spark broader movements/changes, etc.

2023-07-06 17:10:03

Earlier this week, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley tweeted a quote falsely attributed to Patrick Henry that critics said promoted #ChristianNationalism.
Yesterday, instead of deleting the tweet, he just…tweeted several more similar (and this time, accurate) quotes. https://religionnews.com/2023/07/06/josh-hawley-tweets-fake-quote-about-u-s-founding-doubles-down-on-christian-nationalism/

2023-07-06 03:37:56

Still not sure what to think about #Threads, but #Bluesky currently kinda feels like an unbridled, disquieting, possibly drunken reunion of the Old School Twitter Literati, which is…certainly something, I guess.
(For those that didn’t live through its 2012-2016 heyday, the Old School Twitter Literati in its prime was, largely by design, absolutely insufferable.)

2023-07-06 00:32:58

:: speaks to colleagues on Twitter, Bluesky, etc ::
Ah yes, you see, #Threads is apparently also planning to eventually work with the Fediverse, which means it will, in essence, connect to Mastodon
:: nods seriously ::
:: slowly backs away ::
:: turns to #Mastodon crowd ::
:: lowers voice to whisper ::
Okay y’all so how the heck does that work